A combination of tax credits could make it possible for low-income households to better afford personal computers and access to networked information services. Accelerating depreciation schedules for personal computers used in business could rapidly create a secondary market of quality used equipment that could flow to low-income households and poverty-level microenterprises. In order for a business to qualify for an accelerated depreciation, it could be required that the equipment be provided to a school, a charity organization, or low-income individual, with the name of the recipient to be listed on the tax form.
Predictor: Civille, Richard
Prediction, in context:The 1995 book “Public Access to the Internet,” edited by Brian Kahin and James Keller carries the chapter, “The Internet and the Poor” by Richard Civille, executive director of the Center for Civic Networking, a non-profit organization dedicated to the application of information infrastructure to community and economic development. He writes: ”A combination of tax credits could make it possible for low-income households to better afford personal computers and access to networked information services. Accelerating depreciation schedules for personal computers used in business could rapidly create a secondary market of quality used equipment that could flow to low-income households and poverty-level microenterprises. In order for a business to qualify for an accelerated depreciation, it could be required that the equipment be provided to a school, a charity organization, or low-income individual, with the name of the recipient to be listed on the tax form. Existing mechanisms such as the Earned Income Tax Credit could be used to create a one-time credit for the purchase of a new computer system for household use. The EITC would be useful because it is already designed to target low and moderate income working families with children. This mechanism could also be used to provide credits for the purchase of networked information services, software, and training that could be set to various levels depending on family size and household income.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Digital Divide
Name of publication: Public Access to the Internet (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: The Internet and the Poor
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 197, 198
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne